A must win match for Spurs and it was done with a fair bit of graft but not too much style if truth be told. I moaned a few weeks ago about having a ticket for the 9-2 win over Red Star Belgrade, which I couldn’t attend as the kick off time was brought forward, and there was never a chance that this was going to be a goalfest.

The nearest either side came to scoring in the first half was a rare away attack and effort which the home keeper, Olu Oluwayemi kept out diving low to his right. The only goal came on 56 minutes when Timothy Eyoma found Troy Parrott who curled an outswinger from outside the area into the top corner of the net. The visiting keeper made a couple of excellent stops to keep the score down to one.

Despite going to a few Spurs UEFA Youth League matches over the years, this was a new tick, with the pitch now being to the right of the main complex when you arrive, rather than to the left, which was the case in previous years. Tickets were available free of charge for the match at the training ground in Enfield, with applications having to be made in advance.

The evening plan of Cobham v Spelthorne Sports fell to the weather around lunchtime, so with no other new grounds in easy reach, it’s a night off tonight before a long day out tomorrow. I did contemplate seeing if I could get a late ticket for the Champions League match at Spurs, but a bout of cba stepped in.

Walsall Senior Cup 2nd Round. Admission £5/£3/£1. No programme. Crowd 126 (Official).Stafford Rangers 6 v 2 RAF Representative XIRangers were 3 goals up at half time against a spirited RAF side who were a little out of their depth at this level. Rangers were a little hesitant at the back and gave the ball away regularly, no doubt partly due to a lack of confidence that you have when you are bottom of the league.

The home side went 6 clear in the second period before their defensive frailties were exposed late on twice by the visitors who maintained their running and commitment to the end. Good game, no yellow cards and well refereed.

admission S/T, otherwise £15, programme £2-00, attendance 1888 (166 away) 15th v 8th With a big FA Cup game on Saturday, a 3-0 half time lead looked like a great opportunity for the home team to coast through the second half. Such things never happen at the Silverlake and four mins after the restart it was 3-2, leaving the home team to have to battle for the win. A fairly quiet start, the first effort came when the Spitfire's Smart shot from the right wing forcing visiting keeper Covolan to save at his near post. Atkinson then shot over from a corner, then Barnes ran through after an error but was blocked by a last-ditch tackle. The injury-hit visitors looked useful coming forward, apart from their finishing; a great cross from the right was asking to be put in but Keating somehow failed to get a touch on it. Another cross from the right saw Medford-Smith unmarked at the far post but he headed across rather then in and the ball went wide. On 25 mins a cross from the Eastleigh left saw a handball in the area and Rendall converted the penalty to give the hosts the lead. On 29 mins the ball fell to Hollands in the area, his first shot was well blocked, but his second attempt flew into the top corner for Eastleigh's second. The home team the suffered as blow as Johnson went off with an injury (I was surprised he started his third game in a week, it's usually too much for him) and obviously he would be a big miss for Saturday. On the pitch the visitors came close as a Medford-Smith cross came close but it was the home team who increased their lead on 36 mins as Partington's cross took a horrible deflection and ended up in the net. Soon afterwards a quick free-kick by Payne saw him find Barnes clear on the right, but Covolan came out to make a good block. The visitors had a couple of shots as we approached HT at 3-0. After the break Eastleigh's plans were rudely interrupted as on 46 mins a cross from the right was converted by Keating at the far post with the home defence dreaming of the Alex. They were still dreaming three mins later as a ball was played back to Andrews on the edge of the area, and he found the corner with a well-placed shot. Game on, and the home team had to battle and try and resist pressure from the Gulls. This they did, and produced some decent attacks of their own. A couple of home free-kicks were blocked, then the visitors had a chance when sub Lewis was unmarked in the area from a free-kick but Stryjek produced a good save from his header. A curled shot from Andrews then went just wide, then Torquay had a decent shot for a penalty as a forward appeared to be pushed in the box. Andrews had another shot over, but the home team weathered the storm and could have clinched it with two mins to go as Seaman ran with the ball out of defence well into the visitors' half, he had several options but passed to Rendell on the right, who shot wastefully wide. They then held out for an unexpectedly hard-earned win. Great turnout and support from the visiting fans, as usual: a few more in tonight because of a special student deal - ticket, pie and pint for over-18s at £7, ticket, pie and soft drink for under-18s at £5. Worth a try....

If you're going to/been to a Hampshire Premier League match, I'd really appreciate you filling in a questionnaire - available in the Groundhopping/General section, or just PM me for a copy. Thanks.

A first visit to Cardiff’s shiny new home, which sits immediately across the road from the site of the old Ninian Park, a ground I visited as an away fan on three occasions: in 1988 with Reading, in 1993 with Swansea, and in 1995 with Pompey. By new-build standards it’s a gorgeous ground, and the home supporters can still generate the same sort of raucous atmosphere they used to at the old place.

On the pitch this was all a little bit tame, with Cardiff scoring after about ten minutes then coasting for the rest of the match. Stoke were poor and could be in for a difficult season.

The original plan for this evening was to watch the Herefordshire County Challenge Cup second tie between Hereford Lads Club and Holme Lacy. However, this fixture has been delayed for a further fortnight, due to ongoing legal discussions between the club at the Herefordshire FA over the length of the lease of the ground. It sounds as if negotiations have nearly reached a conclusion and, hopefully, Lads Club will finally be able to start playing on the next after work finished approximately six weeks ago. The draw for the quarter-finals of the competition was made last night and the winners of the tie will host Hereford. However, if Holme Lacy are successful, then the tie will be switched to Edgar Street and played under the floodlights as per the competition rules. Anyway, the re-scheduling of the county cup-tie meant that I headed to Edgar Street for the second time in the space of a fortnight. On that occasion, the Bulls succumbed to a 2-1 Vanarama National League North reverse at the hands of Alfreton Town, in what was a disappointing performance particularly in the second-half of the match. Hereford then went on to plumb further depths in their next outing when they suffered a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Altrincham on the road. The Bulls curtailed their recent poor run of form with a 0-0 draw at this evening’s opponents in the original tie on Saturday afternoon. Kings Lynn Town were surprisingly riding high at the summit of the Vanarama National League North table following their promotion from the Southern League Central Premier Division last term via the end of season play-offs. Both teams knew that they would host Dover Athletic of the Vanarama National League in the first round of the FA Trophy next month.

The visitors made the perfect start to this replay when they opened the scoring as early as the fifth minute courtesy of a Rory McAuley header from a corner on the right. Just as the Hereford fans were recovering from the shock of the early goal, the Norfolk outfit doubled their lead two minutes later, when a header from a free-kick came back off the crossbar and the loose ball was fired home from a tight angle by Ross Barrows. The Bulls saw a close range effort saved following a tenth minute corner before Kings Lynn Town saw a drive from the edge of the penalty area turned behind for a corner four minutes later. A visiting player latched on to a well-timed pas in the 20th minute but poked wide of the target when the Hereford goalkeeper came out to close down the angle. The hosts struck a 25 yard drive narrowly over the target just a minute later. Hereford concluded the opening period by seeing a shot from a tight angle deflected into the side netting just before the half-time whistle. The Bulls saw a low strike from the edge of the penalty area turned behind for a corner, four minutes after the interval, after a free-kick was played into the penalty area. Hereford were then awarded a penalty just a couple of minutes later but the Kings Lynn Town custodian turned the ball behind from Peter Vincenti before the hosts saw two efforts cleared off the line in quick succession from the subsequent corner. The visitors saw an effort turned behind for a corner in the 56th minute before the ball was forced wide of the target 11 minutes later after a free-kick was played into the Bulls' penalty area. Kings Lynn Town netted their third goal of the evening, with five minutes remaining on the clock, when substitute Sonny Carey fired home after Ryan Hawkins' effort was only parried. The Norfolk club nearly added another goal before the final whistle but a low shot past the goalkeeper came back off an upright an cleared to safety.

National League Huish Park Yeovil Town 2 Aldershot Town 2 Admission: £13 (ticket bought on line and collected at ground) Paper available Attendance: 2,545

This was an itch that had to be scratched; my closest un-visited NL ground and two teams, neither of whom I'd seen play in almost 45+ years of watching football. You will have to drag me kicking and screaming for a return as this was woeful fare, even for a bargain £13 standing on the home Thatcher's Terrace. Neither side had any confidence in any type of play and we ended up with an endless series of hoofs, which was boring in the extreme. No chances either. The game livened up when Powell was scythed down in the box to give Chislett a chance to put the vistors ahead, which he did on 27. This just increased the level of grumpiness from the home crowd however Skendi controlled a long throw and sent the ball into the far corner to level things on 38. HT 1-1. No improvement in the second half except for two more goals. A free-kick from the Shots' Powell appeared to go straight through Nelson's (home keeper) legs on 56 but Murphy equalised from the spot for the hosts on 72. Lots of Zummerzet cries to get the ball on the deck went unheeded and amost unsatisfactory evening's entertainment was concluded after an additional 5 minutes added time. Home in 65 via Shepton Mallett and Frome.

A mixture of bad weather and work and family commitments had left me without a game for 10 days, so it was good to get back out on a terrace.

A game that was poor for large parts, but Coalville always seemed to have a little more quality than their opponents. The opening goal came on 35 minutes. Two defenders slid in to block a shot from left winger McGlinchey and, as the ball ballooned up into the air, McGlinchey sent a looping header over the keeper and into the far corner.

Any hopes the visitors had of getting back into the game were hampered by a silly red card on 51 minutes. The ball went out of play but struck the linesman and bounced back to the feet of the home number 7, who was promptly scythed down by the visiting left back for a second yellow card. While the ball was dead.

Further goals came from number 5, Thomas, on 70 minutes, beating the keeper high to his near post when everyone was expecting a pull back, and on 84 minutes from number 14, Mitchell, within a couple of minutes of coming on as a sub.

...With a Trophy replay so close to home, a degree of Tuesday afternoon inertia set in. Quite often, inertia can have some positive consequences as a cracking game with a number of equally cracking goals was the outcome...

....And on a wet evening there were no pitch concerns as even after the extra time deluge there was hardly a scratch on it at the end. Though it was noted that the roof to the stand sprung a leak and a constant drip to my right caused a very damp area by the end.

The only portion of the contest that did not particularly impress was the opening twenty minutes which was tentative apart from a positive run down the left by George Saunders for the hosts, pity that he had no support in the middle and his cross went through an expanse of Hornchurch attacking emptiness.

First half did improve as Ronnie Winn's equally positive run down the right was pulled back to Johnson's whose posture was not what was expected and a clear chance was blasted high in the direction of Lane 2 of the athletics track. Fortunate for the visitors soon as at least two well timed blocks virtually on the line from Craig King prevented Chris Dickson and Marvin Morgan from giving the hosts a lead after the visiting keeper had uncharacteristically dropped a free kick.

At the other end there was a higher level feel to Oxford City's approach play and Elliot Benyon had served notice with a angled drive which fractionally went past the far post the same player gave the visitors the lead. One characteristic of their play was the quality of their finishing and this was no exception as a free kick from Josh Ashby was floated in and Benyon's cushioned volley was placed perfectly past Joe Wright. Benyon could have doubled the visitors advantage during the lengthy period of first half stoppage time but Wright just managed to touch over Benyon's angled shot.

Hosts deservedly level early in the second half with Morgan flicking on in the direction of Chris Dickson clever control to gain a modicum of space and angled past King. Not long before the visitors restored their lead with equally good control from Benyon to garner a few inches to line up and almost effortlessly direct past Wright who from this angle committed himself fractionally too early.

In response, plenty of Hornchurch possession but opportunities apart from a couple of shouts for penalties, which the man in black chose to ignore. As Saunders shot straight when an angle was required, there was an increasing belief that the visitors were heading towards the next round and the also present 'Geoff' said his goodbyes in order to beat the barrier that can impinge on a quick getaway. What he failed to take into account that each Tuesday night Trophy replay seen this season has gone to extra time and when Saunders' corner reached Spence in the final minutes and his header crept just inside the far post, the consecutive extra time in Tuesday Trophy Replays increased to 4:4.

Unusually the period of extra time was the most entertaining as both teams were increasingly tired. In addition, we were treated to some excellent goals commencing with a perfect twenty five yard strike from Saunders that left King rooted, though it was clear that his vision was impeded. The to and fro nature of the contest was quickly restored with an excellent curling free kick over the Hornchurch wall and all Wright's attempt to save could do was assist the ball over the line. Hornchurch back in front with Saunders' angled shot being parried into the path of a waiting Morgan by King and it was a simple task to dispatch. Throughout there was little difference between the teams with the hosts determination being matched by the superior ability of the visitors and after Joe Oastler's half volley from the edge of the area had clipped the top of the bar, they levelled with Kevin Berkoe's cross from the left travelling behind Stefan Brown but he managed to meet with a majestic volley on the turn right into the corner and the outcome was penalties.

Of the four spot kicks taken by Hornchurch all were perfectly placed past King, however this was not the case with Oxford City as Oastler's and Brown's efforts were far too close and straight and Wright saved without too much difficulty. Dulwich Hamlet at home is the hosts reward in the next round.

Being just a few miles away from the abode was never a concern regarding extra time and it was a simple c2c return journey with the locks being turned just before 23.30...

They started off well with slick passing and fast moves down the wing without much success.

The turning point came in the 23rd minute when the Brighouse keeper brought down Paul Shanley in the area. Red card and penalty. A long delay whilst their team and their keeper protested and even longer as they tried to find a volunteer to go in goal.

Eventually someone stepped forward to be beaten by a Louis Corrigan penalty. His next main action was to pick up a back pass in error.

This boded well for Linnets but unfortunately as often happens the 10 men played out of their skins and the stand in keeper produced 3 blinding saves.

Linnets played poorly unable to pass properly and with 15 minutes to go they also went down to 10 men following an unnecessary sliding tackle that should have been yellow.

With 10 against 10 Linnets started to play better and quite easily held out.

Onto the first “Elclassitoll” bridge derby against Widnes onnSaturday.

The pitch passed an afternoon inspection and despite more rain before the kickoff was playable. Arrived early so plenty of parking available in the good sized car park. Ground nothing spectacular but ticks all the boxes. Fully railed, hard standing, two stands, one seated the other standing. The clubhouse had a bar (no hand pumps) and a tea bar serving pies, pasties, sausage rolls and hot drinks!

This cup tie was an absolute cracker! Going into this game Sports sat second in the Division 1 table Town were 12th. The game started in spectacular style when Town’s keeper Nathan Ball scored in the first minute with a wind assisted punt that caught out the home keeper. In the 14th minute the visitors were two up when I think it was Miluk had a shot from just outside the box deflected past the keeper. Sports on the back of a seven game unbeaten run pressed hard to get back into the tie. Three minutes before half time they halved the deficit with a free kick on the edge of the box that was fired through the wall. After the break Sports dominated and with some help from the officials got back on level terms. In the 52nd minute a goalmouth scramble led to the referee pointing to the spot. Keeper Ball got a hand to the shot but could not keep it out, two-two. With most decisions going the way of the home team the visitors frustrations started to get the better of them and in the 58th minute an outburst from keeper Ball led to him being sin binned. For the next fourteen minutes (stoppage time added to the ten) It was backs to the wall for Town with the stand in keeper making two excellent saves. Once back to eleven against eleven the game reverted to end to end drama as both sides went for the win but at the full time whistle they could not be separated. And so to pens. After five each it was three all with both keepers saving twice. Then man of the match Ball stepped up again. First he saved Sports sixth penalty and then fired in the winning spot kick himself. A goal in open play, a sin binning, three penalty saves and then scoring the winning penalty. Quite a night for the Town keeper!

I knew I should have stayed in the house. A miserable wet Tuesday evening in Kirkcaldy scarcely sets the pulses racing and this turgid 90 minutes of drudgery did nothing to lighten the tone. As the teams lined up it should have been obvious how it would pan out. I’ve seen enough football over the years to know that two teams playing a 4-4-2 with one of them intent on defence is a recipe for stalemate. Forfar’s two banks of four absorbed everything Raith could muster and their two forwards were left isolated with minimal possession. The game was crying out for Raith be more adventurous, especially down the flanks, but manager McGlynn stuck to his Plan A from the dinosaur era.

And that is exactly how it turned out. The only action worthy of the name came in the 1st and 91st minutes. The Forfar goalkeeper made an excellent stop in the first minute and Raith broke away to come close in stoppage time but in between was absolutely dire. Not that Forfar will be bothered – they arrested a run of 7 straight defeats with a point away to one of the promotion hopefuls. Raith fans might point to an array of injured players sitting in the stand but they should still have enough about them to cope with a toothless Forfar side.

The incessant rain will have out off quite a few people from attending. 975 is Raith’s lowest crowd of the season. Forfar fans were in the corner of the main stand and ten were there at the end applauding their team from the park. A walk-up price of £16 is far too much for this level of football and a reminder of why I attend fewer and fewer of this type of match.

Decent programme for £2.50, covering Saturday’s Cup tie against Peterhead as well. I like the back to front / upside down format that some teams use for double issues. No doubt obsessive collectors will have to buy two so that they can file one for each configuration.

League One is very open so far. Airdrie, Falkirk, Raith and East Fife have an advantage over the rest. Safe to say that which ever one doesn’t get automatic promotion will struggle in the Play Offs. Forfar and Stranraer are a wee bit adrift at the bottom. Peterhead, Montrose, Clyde and Dumbarton are mid table and could easily climb or fall quickly depending on what sort of a run, if any, they can put together.

Somewhat of a surprise in NWCL 1 North terms as early promotion chasing Ashton were held by bottom of the table Steeton in a game which never really rose above average on a heavy pitch. The visitors missed the only decent chance of a dour first half and only at the start of the second period did the home side look anything like their league position suggested, finally taking the lead on the hour from a narrow angle. Despite dominating possession they didn't threaten to extend their lead and Steeton doggedly hung in to claim a deserved point in injury time with a decent 18 yard strike. I did wonder how perennial strugglers Ashton had managed to reach fourth in the table having never played in the top flight of the NWCL in 34 years of membership - well it appears they have recruited their team from the Liverpool end of Ashton-in-Makerfield and with it, the usual brand of whining and moaning at the referee at every decision given against them. Steeton worked hard and belied their position at the foot of the table and having also seen them win at Pilkington this season I'm not sure how they find themselves propping up the rest. Ashton's Edge Green Street ground is a step back in time and remains unchanged from my last visit in 2004 and to be fair has changed little from my first in 1989. Accessed via an unadopted dead end road, the turnstiles behind the goal lead on to a ground which slopes away from that end with a small basic clubhouse immediately to the right. A separate dressing room block stands along the right touchline with two seated stands opposite, both slightly set back on gentle banking, both having a very home-made feel. Even with such a meagre crowd, parking was an issue, the road leading to the ground only just wide enough for cars to be parked on either side. All in all, one definitely worth revisiting. One note from the evening, this was my first drawn game in 40, a run stretching back to August 10th.

Shefford Town & Campton 0 Leighton Town (0) 1 SML Lge Cup att 24 h/c admission £5 incl prog An 86th minute penalty won an entertaining game in which both goalkeepers excelled. The home team were reduced to 10 men early in 2nd half but the match remained very even throughout. Small stand with modern clubhouse but a very pot-holed approach road. Met Bagman there.

New Grounds this season 28: Total Grounds visited 1660

nb: i will only post re new grounds when BurgessHill Bee doesn't..(since he's far better informed than I)

Southend went ahead early on and then received ( some say dubious ) penalty. So two up at the break.

Only surprise in the second half was that did not add to the total, Orient did not threaten much and if their Number 9 did get the ball he seemed to be allergic to passing!

Most of those watching were easily distracted as Sol had the First team training on the pitch next door, he certainly had them working on finishing plus plenty of fitness!

Last New ground; Benhall St Mary, Games in 2019/20 Season; 61, New Grounds this Season; 30, Next scheduled game: Ipswich Town v Coventry City - FAC (10/12/19) http://portmanroadtothesansiro.blogspot.co.uk/

Stour were completely outclassed in the first half and could easily have been 3 down. Much improved after the break, and the equaliser came just before going home time. The visitors may feel peeved, but had they taken their chances... So a reply next Tuesday that neither side would have wanted. Good hoppers' corner, with Bradshaw, Pheasant, some Worcestershire Mafia and the welcome return of Another Glassboy.

Well the start of a five-week run of nitty gritty for Mrs hh .. which will see her lads host the “top four” .. and potentially gain entry into the 3rd Round of FA Cup and Leasing.Com trophies .. and tonight, for me, the best league fixture so far at Fratton Park this season .. the Millers a big strong side and quick to move the ball and players about the pitch .. helped by Mr “J’s” usual formation and defensive mindset, although with some key injuries and the use of different personnel factoring, including the Hemel legend Ollie Hawkins in transition to a centre back .. yes, it was a good chance to assess and see the recent pick up in confidence, as momentum is now building down on the South Coast.

However, although a great match for the neutral, Mrs hh was never comfortable throughout .. even with the hosts taking the lead on each of three occasions .. she was always thinking that an equaliser was coming, as is the norm this season at home .. and not helped by Ollie’s clumsy tackle in the box to give a penalty away during the second half .. but at least she was thankful for another Ronan Curtis curler top right and the upbeat team display, which provided a good win to start off the run of key games .. as Peterborough United are next up in the League, with Ipswich Town and Wycombe Wanders to follow later next month .. but in the interim, we’ll reconvene on Saturday to see how Altrincham enjoy their FA Cup day out .. as Non-league football can once again be admired .. and of course, explained to my wife ..

Rugby Town 12 Desborough Town 0 United Counties League.Premier Division

Rugby Town thrashed Sleaford Town 8-0 on the previous Saturday and would never have thought that they would better that score against a team who are well away from the bottom of the table.I must say I have never seen such poor defending at what is Step 5 level.Desborough were truly desperate with Rugby scoring at will with the score 7-0 at halftime and 12-0 at fulltime. Butlin Road is always a good ground to visit and far to good to be staging this level of football.Rugby are on a decent run and are now third in the table as for Desborough,things can only get better!!

Shefford Town & Campton 0 Leighton Town (0) 1 SML Lge Cup att 24 h/c admission £5 incl prog An 86th minute penalty won an entertaining game in which both goalkeepers excelled. The home team were reduced to 10 men early in 2nd half but the match remained very even throughout. Small stand with modern clubhouse but a very pot-holed approach road. Met Bagman there.

Also at Shefford Sports Club for this Spartan South Midlands Challenge Trophy. Leighton Town from the Premier Division , and Shefford from Division 1.

I walked all the way around the pitch on the block brick path, the grass itself is very well drained, meaning this particular match wasn't called off. The railings nearest to the carpark have no grid or mesh on them so there was the odd wayward ball in the car park.

The red card incident did seem to be a turning point in the game, the home side lost some of their impetus, and Leighton managed to score from a penalty in the 87th minute.

GROUNDS VISITED.(382) NEW GROUNDS THIS SEASON 2019/20. (13) GAMES THIS SEASON 2019/20. (23) GAMES SINCE LAST 0-0. Ipswich Town v Wycombe Wanderers. 26/11/19. (2) BEST RUN OF NOT SEEING A 0-0. (61) LEAGUES COMPLETED. Championship. League 1. Isthmian League North. ECL Premier Division. ECL Division 1 North. SCEFL Premier Division. FOOTBALL SEEN IN:Bulgaria,Czech Republic,England,France,Greece,Guensey,Holland,Scotland,Switzerland,Turkey & Wales.

Rugby Town 12 Desborough Town 0 United Counties League.Premier Division

Rugby Town thrashed Sleaford Town 8-0 on the previous Saturday and would never have thought that they would better that score against a team who are well away from the bottom of the table.I must say I have never seen such poor defending at what is Step 5 level.Desborough were truly desperate with Rugby scoring at will with the score 7-0 at halftime and 12-0 at fulltime. Butlin Road is always a good ground to visit and far to good to be staging this level of football.Rugby are on a decent run and are now third in the table as for Desborough,things can only get better!!

Also here and have to agree with the comment about Desborough's defending. It could have been far more than 12 as Rugby struck the woodwork twice and were thwarted by the Desborough goalkeeper in numerous one-on-ones.

It was my first visit to Butlin Road. A very impressive venue for this level. How do they afford the upkeep?